SkipThatYearREAL DATA. SMARTER CAR DECISIONS.
← New search

2003 Toyota MR2 Spyder

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

Limited comparison data

There is not enough comparable history to draw a useful model-year comparison.

About this comparison →
12Owner complaints

Model-year median: 6.5

0Recall campaigns

View recall details →

0Investigations

View investigation details →

How this year compares

Owner complaints by model year

Other model years Selected year
1
200012
2003
Compare all MR2 Spyder years →

Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.

What owners reported most

Electrical System
4Power Train
4Vehicle Speed Control
3Engine
2Electronic Stability Control (esc)
1
All reported categories
Engine And Engine Cooling
1Exterior Lighting
1Service Brakes
1Service Brakes, Hydraulic
1Structure
1Tires
1

Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.

When problems were reported

Mileage at the reported incident

Limited mileage data: 8 of 12 reports include usable mileage. There isn’t enough coverage to show a useful chart.

NHTSA’s mileage field refers to the reported incident, not necessarily the filing date. This shows report counts, not the likelihood of a failure.

What to inspect

Issues worth paying extra attention to based on owner reports.

  • Electrical System. Review the 4 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Power Train. Review the 4 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Vehicle Speed Control. Review the 3 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

2 crash reports1 fire reports0 injury reports

Vehicle Speed Control complaints

3 reports
Clear category filter
55,000 miles · Sep 30, 2015
EngineService BrakesVehicle Speed ControlCrash

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 TOYOTA MR2 SPYDER. WHILE DRIVING AT AN UNKNOWN SPEED, THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY ACCELERATED WITHOUT THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL BEING DEPRESSED. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT THE VEHICLE SPUN OUT OF CONTROL AND CRASHED INTO A CURB. THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. A POLICE REPORT WAS NOT FILED AND NO INJURIES WERE SUST…

Read full complaint

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 TOYOTA MR2 SPYDER. WHILE DRIVING AT AN UNKNOWN SPEED, THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY ACCELERATED WITHOUT THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL BEING DEPRESSED. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT THE VEHICLE SPUN OUT OF CONTROL AND CRASHED INTO A CURB. THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. A POLICE REPORT WAS NOT FILED AND NO INJURIES WERE SUSTAINED. THE VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN TO THE CONTACT'S RESIDENCE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 55,000.

NHTSA ODI #10778822

100,253 miles · Apr 10, 2014
Vehicle Speed Control

WHILE DRIVING, THE CRUISE CONTROL SWITCH BECAME INTERMITTENT IN OPERATION, WITH POTENTIAL OF BEING UNABLE TO DISENGAGE IT. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10578953

Mileage unknown · Dec 16, 2008
Electrical SystemElectronic Stability Control (esc)Vehicle Speed Control

MY CAR HAS A HARD SHIFT PROBLEM. IT STOPS AT EVERY TRAFFIC LIGHT AND I HAVE TO START IT AGAIN. ALSO WHEN I SHIFT THE STICK IT CHANGES SO HARD, IT PUSHES ME AND SHAKE IT ITSELF SO HARD. I WAS GOING TO CRASH WHEN IT HAPPENED FIRST TIME. I TOOK IT TO REPAIR SHOP. THEY SAID "TRANSMISSION CONTROL COMPUTER NEEDS TO BE REPLACED AND RE…

Read full complaint

MY CAR HAS A HARD SHIFT PROBLEM. IT STOPS AT EVERY TRAFFIC LIGHT AND I HAVE TO START IT AGAIN. ALSO WHEN I SHIFT THE STICK IT CHANGES SO HARD, IT PUSHES ME AND SHAKE IT ITSELF SO HARD. I WAS GOING TO CRASH WHEN IT HAPPENED FIRST TIME. I TOOK IT TO REPAIR SHOP. THEY SAID "TRANSMISSION CONTROL COMPUTER NEEDS TO BE REPLACED AND REPROGRAMMED" "SEQUENTIAL MANUAL TRANSMISSION (SMT) HARSH SHIFT" THIS IS A BULLETIN OF TOYOTA, I TOOK IT TO TOYOTA DEALER, THEY SAID THEY WILL CHARGE FOR IT. IT S NOT UNDER WARRANTY. BUT IT IS MANUFACTURING MISTAKE, IT S NOT MY MISTAKE. THEY HAVE TO TAKE CARE OF THIS. WHAT CAN I DO ABOUT THIS? PLEASE HELP. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10251987

Official recalls

0

No recalls in this snapshot.

Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗

NHTSA investigations

0

No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.